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comfrey

American

[kuhm-free] / ˈkʌm fri /

noun

plural

comfreys

any coarse Eurasian plant belonging to the genus Symphytum, of the borage family, as the widely cultivated S. officinale, having hairy, lance-shaped leaves and drooping clusters of small, white, rose-colored, or purplish flowers.

comfrey British

/ ˈkʌmfrɪ /

noun

any hairy Eurasian boraginaceous plant of the genus Symphytum, having blue, purplish-pink, or white flowers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of comfrey

1275–1325; Middle English cumfirie, conferye < Anglo-French cumfirie, Old French confire < Medieval Latin *confervia for Latin conferva conferva

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The easiest way of all to use comfrey is to spread cut leaves on the soil alongside growing plants.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

Once your comfrey becomes established, you’ll have a lifetime source of natural fertilizer.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

In addition, liquid comfrey has other growth promoting factors produced by bacteria that are not present in commercial fertilizers.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

A: Traditionally, both comfrey and arnica have been used as topical medicines for pain or bruising.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2022

And even though I could hardly think, I knew the herb: comfrey.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023